Combination display and shipping package



7 Nov. 21, 1967 E. D. ETTIN COMBINATION DISPLAY AND SHIPPING PACKAGE Filed Oct. 14, 1964 United States Patent 3,353,658 COMBINATION DISILAY AND SIHPPING PACKAGE Erwin D. Ettin, Baldwin, N.Y., assignor to Salcoa Corporation, New York, N.Y. Filed Oct. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 403,779 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-4525) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to the provision of a combination display and shipping package formed from a unitary blank of material to include a plurality of flaps enabling the device to be interconnected such that a display portion thereof may be angularly disposed with respect to a horizontal surface supporting the device, or may be interconnected in another manner in which the flap members are disposed in wrap-around relation to form a completely enclosed package suitable for mailing.

This invention relates generally to the field of packaging, and more particularly to an improved combination display and shipping package which may be employed in one stage of assembly to attractively display a merchandise while positioned on a horizontal surface, and which may be subsequently fully wrapped to provide a package suitable for mailing.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved package of the class described which may be formed as a single blank of unitary sheet material.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved combination display and shipping package which may be readily adapted to accommodate a wide variety of shapes and sizes of merchandise without materially departing from the inventive structure.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a combination display and shipping package which may be conveniently assembled to either of two desired conditions with the employment of a minimum of skill on the part of the user.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a combination display and shipping package in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the device may be fabricated using existing conventional box making machinery. I

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the smcification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of an embodiment of the invention as punched from sheet stock and prior to assembly.

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the embodiment showing the same in condition to be used as a display package.

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective showing the embodiment in fully assembled condition wherein a contained article of merchandise may be shipped.

FIGURE 4 is a similar view in perspective showing the sides opposite that seen in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective showing the embodiment in partially assembled condition.

FIGURE 6 is a similar view in perspective showing the sides opposite that seen in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view in perspective corresponding to that seen in FIGURE 2, but showing certain of the parts in partially disassembled condition.

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal central sectional view as seen from the plane 8-8 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the plane 9-9 in FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, the device, gen erally indicated by reference character 10 is formed of a unitary blank of heavy paper or pasteboard material, best seen in FIGURE 1, to include a box forming element 11, a propping element 12 and a wrapping element 13.

The box forming element includes a center wall 14 having a central opening 15 therein formed by the cutting of four triangular flaps 16, 17, 18 and 19, each bounded by free edges 20 and fold edges 21. The center wall 14 is bounded by outer bordering fold lines 22, 23, 24, and 25. Connected to the fold line 22 is a first end wall 26 supporting a glue flap 27, and side flaps 28 and 29 through fold lines 30, 31 and 32 respectively. A second end wall 33 supports side flaps 34 and 35 connected by edges 34a and 35a.

Connected at the line 24 is a first side wall 36 having a tuck flap 40 connected by a fold line 41.

The second end wall 33 includes a linking fold line 42 to which is attached a rear wall 43 having first and second fold lines 44 and 45 defining a linking member 46.

The propping element 12 includes a second cover member 48 bounded by fold lines 49 and 50 which interconnect laterally extending flaps 51 and 52. The flaps 51 and 52, in turn interconnect through fold lines 53 and 54 to a pair of end flaps 55 and 56, respectively, each bordered by angularly disposed edges 57 and 58. A foldable tab 59 is cut through the body of each of the end flaps 55 and 56, the tabs 59 being bounded by a free edge 60 and angularly disposed fold line 61.

The wrapping element 13 includes fold portions 64, and 66 interconnected by fold lines 67, 68, 69 and 70. Interconnected at the fold line 70 is an end portion 71 having a tab appendage which is selectively engageable in the slot 73 of the member 48 as best seen in FIGURE 4.

During assembly of the device, the box forming element is first assembled by gluing the tab 27 to the linking member 46, following which the tabs 28, 29, 34 and 35 are inwardly folded to be covered by the side walls 36 and 39. The tuck flaps 37 and 40 may then be inserted as shown in FIGURE 5 to complete a rectangular assembly.

The triangular flaps 16-19 inclusive, may be bent inwardly to support a rectangular article of merchandise (not shown), and it will of course be understood, by those skilled in the art, that the specific configuration of the opening formed thereby may be varied to conform to the shape of the displayed article (not shown).

Where the article is to be displayed, the prop element is upwardly folded, as shown in FIGURE 7, and the tabs 59 are bent inwardly to engage the interstice adjacent the flaps 37 and 40. The wrapping element 13 may then be folded about the line 68, and the line 69 to permit the fold portion 66 to be tucked behind the now formed box forming element 11. In this condition, the device assumes the appearance shown in FIGURE 2, wherein the displayed article (not shown) will be supported at an angle with respect to the horizontal, making the device particularly suitable for display on a horizontal display surface.

Should it be subsequently desired to ship the container with the enclosed article of merchandise, the propping element 12 is disconnected by disengaging the tabs 58 and 59, and wrapping the same about the box forming element 11 through a point where the tab appendage 72 is engaged in the slot 73 (see FIGURE 4). If the tab appendage is provided with a gummed edge (not shown), no further wrapping operation is necessary, and the device 10 may be sent through the mails without further wrapping. If desired, an outer wrapper (not shown) may be provided.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

In a collapsible combination display and shipping package, the improvement comprising: a unitary blank of material including a box-forming element having a principal plane, a propping element foldably connected along a straight line to said box-forming element, and selectively engageable therewith at at least one point in spaced relation from said line to provide a supporting surface which is angularly disposed with respect to said principal plane; a wrapping element foldably connected to said propping element and of suificient length to enclose said box-forming element and said propping element therebeneath; said wrapping element having means selectively interconnecting with a part of said propping element to maintain itself in engaged condition; said propping element including a cover member aligned with said box-forming element, first and second pairs of rectangularly-shaped flaps, interconnected to laterally extend from said propping element, and triangularly-shaped flaps interconnected to said rectangularly-shaped flaps, said triangularly-shaped flaps having tab means selectively engageable with said box-forming element to form a triangularly-shaped prop therefor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,315,516 9/1919 Korfist.

1,494,531 5/1924 Corcoran 206-45.25 1,650,392 11/1927 Ryan et al 20645.25 1,775,618 9/ 1930 Kubler 206-45.25 2,125,725 8/1938 Jaques 20645.25

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

